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White Sands honors local rancher with medal display

By Adriana Salas/Missile Ranger Staff Writer

Posted:
11/18/2012 10:12:38 PM MST

WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE — The military life of Rob Cox, White Sands Missile Range's most memorable rancher, was honored with an unveiling of a display of his war medals at the Cox Range Control Center just before Veteran's Day, Nov. 6.

"He was really a military guy and he liked being there," said Murnie Cox, his wife. "The (Cox family) loved the military and Rob was a good old American guy but, so were all the Coxes."

Rob Cox passed away in 2008 and was affectionately known as the patriarch of WSMR, having managed ranches in New Mexico for 30 years of his life. Most recently, Cox managed the ranch his grandparents purchased in 1893 on WSMR property near the base of the Organ Mountains, where Murnie Cox still resides.

"I now know why everyone talks about you all," said WSMR Commander, Brig. Gen. Gwen Bingham. "He was a WWII vet; many people say that's the greatest generation."

Cox's medals included the Purple Heart and Silver Star. His son, Mark Cox, held on to the medals after his father's passing and a friend of his framed the medals in a shadow box as a gift.

When asked if the medals could be displayed in the front lobby of the building, which is named after the long line of Cox ranchers, Mark Cox said he could think of no better place to display them.

"I do believe he's up there smiling down on this whole thing, although he'd be a little embarrassed," Mark Cox said. "It's probably the best place to put it.

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Cox remembers all of the war stories his father used to tell, from how he obtained his Purple Heart to how he disobeyed orders after being severely injured by returning to his unit to fight.

"My father was my hero. To this day he's still my number one guy," he said.

Rob Cox was a 1st Lieutenant in the "Thundering Herd," Company A from the 18th Tank Battalion, 8th Armored Division. On a cold day in January, Cox led his tank platoon to battle on the Moselle River in France. Suddenly, a blast disabled several tanks, including Cox's tank.

"Apparently he took a good hit to his face. It wasn't as bad as it looked," Mark Cox said. "He still had shrapnel in his face until the day he died."

After recovering from his injuries he was given the position as a Lieutenant in reserve, which Cox said his father did not agree with. Rob Cox walked out of the hospital and to the nearest unit he could find and asked to be taken back to his platoon. Cox was taken back to his platoon where he reassumed his position and continued to command his soldiers.

Cox said his father knew he would have gotten in trouble under any other circumstances but the distress of the war allowed for him to go unnoticed.

"My father was just a great guy all the way around, he was a war hero," he said.

Mark Cox said his father shared a lot of stories with him openly and would shut down often for a couple of years. Several stories brought painful memories like one, Mark Cox recalled, about two infantrymen who shared a cigarette besides his tank. As they moved forward one of the soldiers was fatally wounded by an explosion and landed on top of the soldier he shared a cigarette with.

The soldier quickly removed his friend and without thinking twice moved forward to attack the enemy who had taken his fellow soldier.

"It was a life and death deal every day, he was only 21-years-old then," Mark Cox said.

Cox has shared his father's stories with his children and is glad his children were able to hear firsthand accounts from their grandfather as
well. He said he knows everyone considers their father a hero but he's never seen his father in any other light.

"My dad was just an exceptional sort of guy throughout his life. He just gave that extra effort in everything he did," Mark Cox said. "Dad's here enshrined on this wall and I know it was very important for him."

"What's Up at WSMR" is a weekly feature provided by White Sands Missile Range. This week's feature was written by By Adriana Salas of the Missle Ranger.